The Siemens 3VA1196-5EE36-0AA0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) sized for line protection on 3-pole circuits. Its 16 A continuous rating and TM220 thermal-magnetic release cover branch circuits feeding motor starters, control transformers, or distribution subfeeds where the trip curve needs to ride through moderate inrush without nuisance trips. Interrupting capacity is the headline number here: 187 kA at 240 V, 121 kA at 415 V, 75.6 kA at 440 V, and 17 kA at both 500 V and 690 V. That 187 kA figure at 240 V means this breaker can safely clear a fault on a high-capacity transformer secondary without the arc re-striking — critical for panel SCCR compliance under UL 508A.
What the Ratings Mean for Fit
The TM220 release is a fixed thermal-magnetic design — no interchangeable trip units, no electronic adjustment. Thermal element tracks the 16 A continuous rating across ambient temperatures from -25 °C to 70 °C, with a 1 A derating step at 60 °C (15 A from 60 °C through 70 °C). The magnetic pickup is fixed at the factory for the 16 A frame; you cannot dial it up for motor-starting inrush, so verify the load's inrush characteristic against the standard TM220 curve before committing to the BOM. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V. The 3-pole form factor handles three-phase circuits. Dimensions: 70 mm deep, 76.2 mm wide, 130 mm high.
Panel Integration Notes
This breaker mounts on a DIN rail or bolts directly to a backplate. The 76.2 mm width (3 inches) matches the standard 3-pole MCCB slot in most SENTRON distribution panels. Power loss is 10.6 W maximum at rated load — negligible for thermal budgeting inside a ventilated enclosure, but check internal ambient rise if the panel is sealed and densely packed.